“Ugh…”

Lenoch, who had been groaning from a parched throat, opened his eyes in the middle of the night.

The room was already shrouded in darkness, making it impossible to see anything.

Clutching his throbbing head, Lenoch managed to get up and fumbled along the wall until he found the switch.

Only then did the room light up, revealing the scenery of the hotel room before him.

He stumbled to the small kitchen, turned on the sink, and gulped down water frantically.

As his thirst was quenched, he took a moment to catch his breath and was about to stand up when a wave of nausea hit him, forcing him to clutch the sink again.

“Ugh!!”

Having consumed nothing but cigarette smoke all day, only bitter stomach acid came up.

Holding his head that felt like it was about to split, Lenoch finally collapsed back onto the bed in the middle of the room.

His head pounded madly, and the muscle pain throughout his body felt as if it were tearing apart every joint.

His whole body trembled, and his limbs twisted in strange directions. The abdominal pain and nausea twisted his insides like a rag.

“…Is this a side effect?”

Considering that working in the factory had been excruciating but not this tormenting, it was undeniable.

He had never done drugs in his life, but he imagined the aftereffects would be something like this.

Even as the ceiling spun above him, Lenoch instinctively realized he wouldn’t be able to let go of this cigarette for a while.

He couldn’t abandon the only means that temporarily allowed his frail body to function like a normal person.

Once he regained his senses, his stomach ached from having not eaten anything for over twelve hours.

Crawling to the corner of the room, Lenoch opened the refrigerator and devoured the contents of a can with his bare hands.

The taste was ambiguous, like finely ground meat, but compared to the food from the factory, it was a feast.

Once his stomach was somewhat full, drowsiness hit him again.

The sleepless nights due to insomnia had severely eaten away at his mind.

Eventually, Lenoch could only wake up when the hotel phone rang loudly the next day.

[You have one hour left until the scheduled checkout time. Would you like to extend your reservation?]

“…Yes.”

[The cost for an additional night is 200,000 Cel. The consommé-flavored canned food you consumed yesterday is 20,000 Cel. The total is 220,000 Cel. You paid 100,000 Cel in advance, so please pay the remaining 120,000 Cel at the counter today.]

The fact that one can of food cost 20% of a day’s lodging was absurd.

Lenoch let out a hollow laugh and tossed the phone aside.

Even after sleeping away an entire day, his body still felt heavy, but it was much better than when he first escaped.

Lenoch struggled to get up from the bed and counted the money he had.

“130,000 Cel… After paying the hotel, I’ll only have 10,000 Cel left.”

He had learned about the currency of this world less than 24 hours ago, but he had a rough idea of its value.

He also realized that with just 10,000 Cel, he couldn’t do anything.

Understanding that he couldn’t stay even one more day in this state, Lenoch immediately got up.

He had his first goal after escaping.

He needed money.

Cash Procurement

He entered the shower and scrubbed his entire body. It was the first time he had washed since waking up here.

After soaking his entire body in water, he stood in front of the sink. Only then did Lenoch face his reflection properly.

“…….”

Hollow eyes and long, shaggy black hair. Dark circles and pale lips. Skin so pale that veins showed through.

At least his sharp nose stood out, which was a small relief.

Looking down at his emaciated, stick-thin body, Lenoch let out a hollow laugh.

He was in such bad shape that it was hard to recognize him as the character he had initially created in the character selection screen.

He picked up the razor from the sink and cut off all his shaggy hair.

With his hair completely shaved off, his impression changed from gloomy to more irritable.

After staring at the mirror for a moment, Lenoch nodded in satisfaction.

This much should make it difficult for the supervisors to recognize him.

He believed he had already shaken off the pursuit, but he still needed to be cautious.

Wearing the loose-fitting civilian clothes of a supervisor, Lenoch took out all his belongings and laid them on the bed before moving.

About 130,000 Cel in cash. A pistol with five bullets. A dozen packs of cigarettes stolen from the supervisor’s bedroom.

He had long since changed out of the factory work clothes, and he had left the car keys in the abandoned car, so this was all Lenoch had.

Sitting on the bed, Lenoch fell into thought.

What did he need to survive in this world where he had fallen without knowing anything?

The first thing was already decided.

But there were more than a few issues to consider before earning money.

“No matter how I think about it… it’s impossible to earn money legally.”

In this world, Lenoch was nothing more than an illegal immigrant without a proper identity.

He didn’t know if there was a way to become a legal citizen in this city, and even if there was, it would all take time and money.

For Lenoch, who didn’t even have enough for tomorrow’s lodging, it was a luxury.

Ultimately, his options were limited.

Even in a situation where he was struggling to afford food, Lenoch’s mind diligently came up with methods and suggested rational possibilities.

If it didn’t have to be legal, there were countless ways to get money.

There were many things he could do within the bounds of morality and conscience, even if it meant stepping outside the rules.

With his magic, it wouldn’t be difficult to hunt down criminals lurking in the city’s underbelly and take their possessions.

“In the current situation, that’s the best plan.”

It would be hard to make it a stable source of income, but it was suitable for immediate cash procurement. With his mind made up, Lenoch got up from the bed.

To catch fish, he first needed to head to where there was plenty of water.

Gathering all the items he had laid out on the bed, Lenoch left the room, paid for the day’s lodging at the lobby, and stepped outside.

He moved into the shade to avoid the glaring sunlight.

His head started to spin, and he was short of breath, but Lenoch suppressed the urge to smoke a cigarette.

‘I must endure.’

If he started the habit of smoking whenever he felt unwell, there would be no way to prevent his body from breaking down in the long run.

Moreover, if he started smoking now, it would be like setting a time limit until the side effects kicked in.

Unless it was urgent, he had to refrain from smoking and move with a clear mind.

Watching hundreds of people walking through the streets from the shade, Lenoch turned his head.

He didn’t know where to go, but as he sat there, he began to feel a direction.

‘That way.’

In the bustling city where countless life forces intersected, Lenoch’s innate talent caught a faint thread of magic.

The dark and sticky scent of magic rising from a corner of the city.

Though it was a sensation he had never felt before, Lenoch instinctively realized it was the magic of those living hidden in the shadows.

The magic of criminals parasitizing the city, sucking the lifeblood of others from the shadows.

It was a place that suited Lenoch perfectly at the moment.

Following the trail of magic, he arrived at a chaotic street filled with large entertainment districts, gambling dens, various stalls, and abandoned construction sites.

A sign reading “Zone 49” was discarded in a corner of the street.

Neon signs and dazzling lights surrounded him from all sides, and the pungent scent of perfume and acrid smoke rose from everywhere.

Even in broad daylight, the street was shrouded in deep shadows, filled with people avoiding eye contact with one another.

Despite the atmosphere being completely different from the bustling city center of the Balkan city, Lenoch wasn’t particularly surprised.

There was no need to understand the side effects and damages existing behind the growth of a massive city embracing all sorts of industries and capital.

Just like flies swarming to where money gathers. It was a common occurrence even in the world Lenoch came from.

The attitude of keeping a thorough distance and ignoring each other was palpable from all around.

Occasionally, a few people gathered in groups to chat in secluded spots, but most disappeared into buildings of unknown purpose.

However, there was a way to eavesdrop on their conversations. Especially for Lenoch.

He settled in a corner of the street and focused his magic on his eardrums. The process felt incredibly natural, even without anyone teaching him.

His hearing sharpened instantly, picking up sounds from all around.

Lenoch leaned against the wall of the street, focusing on the sounds coming from inside the buildings.

“They’re looking for an agency to lobby for the selection of the 17th development district construction company. The condition is an 80-20 split.”

“An engineer inspecting the malfunction of the new AI from Palmers Corp. went missing. They’ll probably hire a replacement soon.”

“They want to bribe a druid to participate in the greenbelt reduction plan. They’re thinking of smuggling out a T9 endangered species.”

Many dangerous and lucrative-sounding conversations were happening, but he had no intention of getting involved in situations he couldn’t understand yet.

He quickly brushed past unfamiliar words and expanded his range further.

As his senses expanded rapidly, Lenoch’s magic encompassed the entire street, absorbing sounds.

It hadn’t even been a week since he started using magic, but Lenoch’s magic control ability had already far surpassed his perceptual abilities.

He skipped over conversations that seemed absurdly dangerous or overly complex.

There were even spaces with barriers that his magic couldn’t penetrate, but he didn’t bother looking.

He needed to find an incident simple enough for him to intervene in, one that wouldn’t leave any loose ends but would still be profitable.

It was about fishing for capital in the urban jungle, far removed from the shadows of law and regulation.

When his magic reached a damp alley where the street and sewers intersected.

[I told you to bring the stolen money quickly. Can’t you hear me?]

“…Found it.”

Lenoch’s eyes sparkled as he quickly moved.

A nameless back alley filled with moisture.

Water trickled down the floor, and exhaust fumes from factories spewed from vents in the secluded gaps.

Two men were mercilessly kicking a person lying on the ground.

Thud! Thud!

“…What did I tell you?”

The man at the forefront, kicking, lit a cigarette with trembling hands.

“I said if you pull off this job well, there won’t be any problems. So why are you spouting nonsense about losing the money you stole? Huh?”

“It’s not a lie… It really disappeared on the way…”

Whack!!

The head of the elderly man trying to explain with a bloodied face snapped to the side.

The other man standing next to the one flailing his limbs in anger shook his head.

“There’s no answer. We need the money this guy brought to make this month’s installment…”

“Huff, huff… It’s the third time. This time, that dwarf bastard won’t let it slide.”

“Let’s do this.”

The man’s eyes gleamed dangerously.

“Let’s take one down and sell his organs.”

His companion smirked.

“You’re thinking the same as me.”

Both men’s gazes simultaneously turned to the man lying on the ground.

The moment the man realized their intent, his face turned pale.

“Ughhh!!!”

“Aaahhh!!”

Suddenly, the two men rolled their eyes and began to tremble all over.

Foaming at the mouth, they convulsed and collapsed, with Lenoch emerging from behind them.

A cigarette was already in his mouth.

“Hmm.”

Blue currents flickered in his hands.

“It’s quite effective.”

Even the most basic bolt magic was more than enough to knock two people unconscious.

Ignoring the dazed gaze of the man looking up at him, Lenoch began to search the pockets of the fallen men.

For an ordinary person, it might be questionable, but thinking of it as robbing attempted organ traffickers, he felt no guilt.

He took the cash from their wallets, collected their watches and jewelry without hesitation, and searched for anything useful.

When he reached into the pocket of the man who had been actively kicking, he felt something hard.

“What’s this?”

As he pulled it out, the elderly man gasped and fell back to the ground.

“Please don’t point that this way!”

It was a metallic object resembling a fountain pen, and when he pressed the button in the middle, he heard a whirring sound like an engine starting.

Moreover, faint magical light seeped out from the circuit-like patterns engraved on the surface, indicating it wasn’t an ordinary item.

“It’s an illegally modified laser cutter from Dyke Corp. It’s a monstrous tool that can cut through steel plates. If it hits a person, they’ll be sliced right through…”

“Hmm…..”

Do the thugs in this world carry such items as weapons?

‘If the purpose is cutting, using magic would be more convenient…’

Lenoch pondered but eventually tucked the pen-like cutter into his pocket.

He only had five bullets left in his pistol. The more means of self-defense, the better.

Having gathered everything he needed, Lenoch stood up and looked at the man who hadn’t run away yet.

He had chosen the simplest and least consequential incident among the happenings in this street, but perhaps it was best to deal with the witness completely.

“Will knocking him out erase his memory?”

As Lenoch murmured while conjuring electricity in his hand, the man trembled.

“I-I won’t tell anyone!!”

“It’s easy to say.”

At the cold response, the man asked with a terrified face.

“If you want anything…”

“I just arrived in this city.”

Lenoch grinned.

“I’m looking for a job.”

Library

Watching the man hastily disappear down the alley, Lenoch composed his weary expression.

He had considered killing him to silence him, but no matter how cold Lenoch had become, he wasn’t cruel enough to kill an innocent person.

He had no hesitation when he killed the supervisors who had mercilessly abused him in the factory, but this was different.

He had taken the man’s business card, so if any trouble arose from this incident, he could find him later.

The thugs’ anger would be sky-high when they woke, but that wasn’t Lenoch’s concern.

As he left the damp alley, he took out the money he had seized and counted it.

“…Not bad.”

They had been trying to gather enough money for an installment payment, so they must have been holding a substantial sum.

Combining the amounts the two men had, Lenoch had roughly 700,000 Cel in his hands.

This amount would allow him to stay at the hotel for about four more days, even after deducting various incidental expenses.

For a single shakedown of back-alley thugs, it was a pretty decent haul.

With the money in hand, Lenoch immediately left the entertainment district and bought new clothes at a nearby clothing store.

The clothes he was wearing were too ill-fitting for his frame, drawing unnecessary attention.

A simple shirt and jeans. This should prevent him from standing out due to his attire.

Returning to Zone 49, Lenoch wandered around the street until he found a shabby pharmacy with only a barely hanging sign.

As he entered, a scruffy pharmacist weakly looked up to check the customer.

“Sleeping pills. How much for a week’s supply?”

The pharmacist replied slowly.

“150,000 Cel.”

The price exceeded his expectations, causing Lenoch’s brow to twitch, but he quietly handed over the money and received seven packets of pills.

They were essential to solve the insomnia that plagued him throughout the night.

Having experienced the agony of sleepless nights at the factory, Lenoch had no intention of enduring that suffering again.

He had confirmed that smoking one cigarette after another would knock him out, but relying on cigarettes to sleep was foolish.

Although he was repeatedly doping out of necessity, he had to avoid actions that would strain his already weak body.

With the necessary funds secured and a means to sleep properly obtained, he felt more relaxed.

Lenoch left Zone 49 and headed straight for the bustling city center where the most people gathered.

Asking for directions from those he encountered, he arrived at a large library located at the end of the bustling area. The ten-story building was entirely dedicated to storing books and data.

After shaking off the smell of cigarettes clinging to him, Lenoch settled inside the library.

The first thing he needed to look for was not various information about this world but knowledge about magic.

‘The important thing is to maximize the growth of my magical abilities. Everything else can be postponed.’

Since waking up in this world, Lenoch had experienced various events, but he clearly remembered the penalties embedded in this body.

The negative traits he had used to pour additional points into his magical talent through the Karma system.

Among them, the most fatal was the “Short-lived” trait.

An extreme trait that consumed his lifespan in exchange for talent, turning him into a terminally ill person.

‘In hindsight, it was strange that such a trait existed in the first place.’

A lifespan-related trait applied to a game character without a lifespan, if he had noticed the oddity from there, would things have been different?

Regretting it now was meaningless.

Ultimately, it had set Lenoch’s goal to just one thing.

Survival.

He needed to find a way to extend his melting candle-like time.

And the talent closest to that answer was in his hands.

‘Time-related magic… There might be a way among the highest-level unique magic series.’

When playing as a gun mage, he couldn’t learn unique magic (Sinister) due to the job’s characteristics, even if he wanted to.

Lenoch knew very well how powerful and remarkable his magical talent was, and he had a rough idea of the process needed to utilize it properly.

Fortunately, the category related to magic occupied the entire 8th floor, with various books and data organized.

Lenoch began by pulling out all the books he guessed were introductions and started devouring them.

‘How to sense magic, the principle of storing it within the body, the dangers of magic control, the fifteen essentials for using magic…’

For Lenoch, who had awakened his magic and started using it in just three days, the content was meaningless.

He skipped them boldly.

Flipping through tens to hundreds of pages at a rapid pace, he devoured the books.

The sound of pages fluttering stopped abruptly at the last chapter.

‘Magic Patterns. There was such a concept.’

When playing the gun mage character, it was a concept he knew but didn’t have to care about, so Lenoch focused on reading the book.

From the moment magic is awakened, a magic pattern is created for the magician, leaving traces every time magic is used.

According to the book, patterns are referred to as the fingerprints of magicians and are impossible to change once solidified.

‘However, from level 8 and above, grand magicians can adjust magic at the particle level, making it meaningless… What level is 8?’

In WORLD 2.0, where Lenoch played as a gun mage, magicians’ levels were divided by the grade of “Sinister” they could use, not by level.

Therefore, it was hard to grasp what exactly level 8 meant in this world.

In any case, since it was unfamiliar knowledge he hadn’t seen in the game, he needed to examine his own magic pattern.

‘Extend your palm, place the index finger of the other hand in the center, and let the magic flow.’

Following the book’s instructions, as he moved his magic, it flowed along his finger and spread across his palm, forming a definite pattern.

Watching the three spirals intersect and swim across his palm with a curious expression, Lenoch’s expression turned strange.

As he moved the magic slightly, the spirals on his palm completely flipped, transforming into dozens of rhombus shapes.

“……”

Moving the magic sideways again, countless concentric circles emerged, soaking his palm.

It didn’t take long for Lenoch to realize he could freely change the magic pattern as he imagined.

Though he didn’t know exactly how much, this state alone was proof of having grand magician-level magic control.

Considering it hadn’t been three days since he awakened his magic, it was an unbelievable feat.

‘The talent is certainly there.’

Yes. With such a weak body, the talent should pierce the sky.

Finding a peculiar solace in that fact, Lenoch tossed the introductory books he had brought into the library’s return bin.

He had only read one book, but he could guess what the introductory content contained.

Lenoch’s excellent memory had already perfectly captured most of the content like a photograph.

From now on, he planned to focus solely on books about common magic and unique magic.